REMF

Well, John is back in the states. He hurt his back. Some crazy insurgent shot at him (We'll not at him but near him, many of our enemies don't aim well). So he did a double backflip with a triple gainer trying to get to cover. I hear his patrol mates held up signs giving him a decent score; 8.75, 9.25, and the Italian in the group gave him an 11 (even though we all know 10 is the best score possible).

You realize that the ratio of Officers vs Enlisted leaving the fight is 3 to 1. Conspiracy theory anyone? John was a great boss while he lasted. He took the heat instead of passing the buck, backed me on most of my rants, defused my when I need it, and didn't micro manage. Hope his injury heals quickly.

We killed alot of bad guys this week. They are acting up and making themselves more visible. While you may think this is a bad thing, there is some satisfaction in seeing your enemy so you can shoot them vs getting shot at and never seeing who shot at you. Or so I hear anyway. I don't get to share the burden too often. Stay Tuned... 

And Now For Something Completely Different...

How many of you are old enough to know where the tag line comes from? MP is the only clue I'll give. Craig at Lesco: What a great and unexpected package that was! All the papers from opening day, Boston Sports Review, Cracker Jacks, peanuts, Sox tshirt, Sox scratch cards (won $5), Man did it make me feel normal again. Thanks bud.

I've been thinking about the transition from soldier to civilian over the last few days. Will it be difficult? Not for me. I am so sick of who I am here I can't wait to be me again. Some of our boys will have trouble though. Folks back home should talk to the Family Readiness Groups so they are prepared for and can identify some of the bullshit they are in store for when we get back. I will start planting seeds here so they are thinking about the transition too. Realize that many of them have seen and done shit that is not normal back home. Try to understand and prepare yourselves for weird moods and "left field" crap. It will pass.

We are almost home! Soon, soon, soon. Our replcements have representatives here preparing for the handoff. I think between our final push and the doubled forces taking our place the bad guys are screwed. If Haji is reading this: You are finished. you should leave before you can't or prepare to meet your maker. You have lost. Power has noticed your recent boldness and is happy you are visible for a change. Eat lead.

I can't wait to watch baseball again, bloodless rivalries. (I wouldn't mind seeing ARod bleed just a little). 

Blah, Blah, Blah

It occured to me today that I never mentioned our role here in Al Anbar province. We are attached to our maneuver counterparts, a team for each company. We provide lethal and non-lethal targeting for the Company commanders. As artillerymen, we are trained to bring fires (artillery, mortars, close air support) to kill the enemy. I can count the times we have been able to do that on one hand. Our other job is Information Operations. We have no formal training in this skill and pretty much make it up as we go. Guidance from Higher HQ is minimal so we are often frustrated. The best analogy I can come up with is we are like cops walking the beat gathering info and handing out the Mayor's message. We try to find the movers and shakers but usually meet resistance and lies. Sometimes we get good information that leads to catching bad guys. At our level we pretty much speak to the average citizen who has no say in anything. As you go up the chain the commanders speak with the influential leaders.

Usually we are lied to or told what we want to hear. Despite the frustration we drive on and do our best. We find ways to gather information and have gotten quite creative in our methods. In the city itself IO is pretty useless as there are so many insurgents that the "good" people are afraid to say anything out of fear.

I think the unit that replaces us is going to go about it differently. Can you say "Fallujah"? We really didn't have enough combat power to roll through Ramadi, but thats what needs to happen. Talking nice has gotten us nowhere. 

New link over there on the right>>>>>>

The 2/28BCT (The Brigade we belong to) has started a Blogsite. I think although we may not share the same views described there, it is more informative than our site. It is a "top-down" view of things, the views of the big bosses, not the Joe's on the ground. Take from it what you will. The picture here is from their website which you can find by typing the keywords "iron Soldiers". 

I-95

Can you imagine trying to cross I-95 like this? This is a major highway in our area. It blows my mind. This isn't even a good representaion of how crazy it is. Get me out of here! 

The Glass Factory

Our base is behind this complex. That is the Euphrates river in the foreground. This is where the Iraqi Police recruiting drives have been held in our area. Just outside the base and this factory is the most violent city in Iraq. It needs a military solution much like Fallujah as playing nice is not working (my opinion). This place is a magnet for "undesireable" types, and may be the last bastion for organized insurgent cells. I think if Ramadi could be purged of terrorists and insurgents, it would break their collective back and would jumpstart the political process here.

Alas, I am a lowly E-7 with no power whatsoever. I offer my opinions to the wind. I do think that as a Brigade we have made progress and the effort has been worthwhile. I have to think that way as I'd like to think the families of soldiers we have lost will find some comfort in their loved ones sacrifice. Hopefully they (we) will be able to look back on this 20 years from now and say it was worth it. I look at the pictures of soldiers that made the ultimate sacrifice evey day and thank them. I will never forget them.

I am very proud of the soldiers we brought here. Every one of them. They impress me every day. I am proud to have served with them. I will do my best to bring them all home. KT